Today is the 48th day of 2014 and the 59th day of winter.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1801, the U.S. House of Representatives resolved an electoral tie by electing Thomas Jefferson president and his opponent, Aaron Burr, vice president.
In 1933, the Blaine Act initiated the repeal of Prohibition in the United States.
In 1974, a disgruntled U.S. Army private stole an Army helicopter at Fort Meade in Maryland and landed it on the White House lawn.
In 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in the last game of a six-game match in Philadelphia, winning the overall series by a final score of 4-2.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Red Barber (1908-1992), sportscaster; Hal Holbrook (1925- ), actor; Jim Brown (1936- ), football player; Rene Russo (1954- ), actress; Lou Diamond Phillips (1962- ), actor; Larry the Cable Guy (1963- ), comedian; Michael Jordan (1963- ), basketball player; Michael Bay (1965- ), filmmaker; Dominic Purcell (1970- ), actor; Denise Richards (1971- ), actress; Billie Joe Armstrong (1972- ), musician; Jerry O'Connell (1974- ), actor; Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1981- ), actor; Paris Hilton (1981- ), socialite.
TODAY'S FACT: The House of Representatives conducted 36 votes (one tie, 35 indecisive) before Thomas Jefferson was chosen as president over Aaron Burr.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1943, Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. He was released on medical discharge in September 1945 due to chronic stomach ulcers.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "The rule of my life is to make business a pleasure and pleasure my business." -- Aaron Burr
TODAY'S NUMBER: 29 million -- certified album sales for "Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" (released on this date in 1976), the first album certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Feb. 14) and last quarter moon (Feb. 22).